CarterHud

         Consistency has been pretty big for the Boston Bruins in the 2010s. They\’ve eclipsed 90 points every year. They\’ve won a Presidents trophy (2013-14), They\’ve appeared in two Stanley Cup finals in 2011 and 2013, and they won it all in 2011. Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara and Tuuka Rask are still there, but there is a crop of new Bruins ready to take the reigns. First, let\’s look at some fast facts for the Boston Bruins.

Head Coach: Bruce Cassidy
General Manager: Don Sweeney
Arena: TD Garden
AHL Affiliate: Providence Bruins
2017-18 record: 50-20-12 (112 points)
2017-18 placement: 2nd
Division: Atlantic
2017-18 goals leader: David Pastrnak (35)
2017-18 assists leader: Brad Marchand (51)
2017-18 points leader: Brad Marchand (85)
2017-18 points leader (defenseman): Torey Krug (59)
Captain: Zdeno Chara
Assistant Captains: Patrice Bergeron, David Krecji
2018 first round pick: None (Took Axel Andersson in 2nd round)

Offseason additions: John Moore, Jaroslav Halak, Joakim Nordstrom, Chris Wagner.

Offseason subtractions: Rick Nash, Riley Nash, Nick Holden, Anton Khudobin, Tim Schaller, Tommy Wingels, Brian Gionta, Paul Postma.

Forwards: Even though he played in just 68 games, the pesky Brad Marchand scored 85 points in a great season. At age 21, David Pastrnak added 80 points. Patrice Bergeron had 63 points in 64 games. At ages 21 and 20 respectively, Danton Heinen and Jake DeBrusk combined for 90 points. David Krejci and David Backes missed a lot of games, combining for just 77 points. Ryan Donato scored nine points, including five goals in 12 games after returning from the Olympics. Him and top prospect Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson are expected to have good seasons on the third line, but they\’ll have to make the team first. Joakim Nordstrom and Chris Wagner, the two offense additions, are fourth liners who will be healthy scratches a lot.

Forward lines:

Brad Marchand – Patrice Bergeron – David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk – David Krejci – Danton Heinen
Ryan Donato – Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson – David Backes
Sean Kuraly – Noel Acciari – Anders Bjork
Others: Chris Wagner, Joakim Nordstrom

Defenseman: After scoring nearly 60 points, Torey Krug showed why he is a top 20 blueliner in the league. Charlie McAvoy produced a solid rookie season, with 32 points in 62 games. Now over 40, Zdeno Chara is aging, but is still playing top 2 minutes for them. John Moore is an addition they didn\’t need, as Matt Grzelcyk is pushed out of the lineup.

Defensive pairs:

Zdeno Chara – Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug – Brandon Carlo
John Moore – Kevan Miller
Other: Matt Grzelcyk, Adam McQuaid

Goalies: With a .917 SV% and 2.36, Tuuka Rask is not exactly elite. But, he is still above average among the other starting goaltenders. After starting with the Islanders, Jaroslav Halak is now settling into a backup role with the Bruins.

Goalie alignment:

Tuuka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
Other: Zane McIntyre

Predictions:

Top five scorers:

Brad Marchand
David Pastrnak
Patrice Bergeron
Torey Krug
Ryan Donato

Playoffs: Yes
Division spot: 2nd
I think the Bruins will be eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.

       After not winning a regulation game in the first 21 games of 2017-18, the Arizona Coyotes ended up finishing 29th overall, and failing to eclipse 80 points for the 4th straight season. They haven\’t made the playoffs since 2011-12, and have only made it past round one once, when they reached the Conference finals in 2012. A young team that seems to get younger each year, let\’s look at some fast facts for the Arizona Coyotes.

Head Coach: Rick Tocchet
General Manger: John Chayka
Arena: Gila River Arena
AHL Affiliate: Tucson Roadrunners
2017-18 record: 29-41-12 (70 points)
2017-18 placement: 8th
Division: Pacific
2017-18 goals leader: Clayton Keller (23)
2017-18 assists leader: Clayton Keller, Derek Stepan (42)
2017-18 points leader: Clayton Keller (65)
2017-18 points leader (defenseman): Oliver Ekman-Larsson (42)
Captain: None
Assistant Captains: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Alex Goligoski, Brad Richardson, Derek Stepan
2018 first round selection: Barrett Hayton

Offseason additions: Alex Galchenyuk, Michael Grabner, Jordan Oesterle, Vinnie Hinostroza.
Offseason subtractions: Max Domi, Jordan Martinook, Luke Schenn, Zac Rinaldo.

Forwards: At age 19, Clayton Keller lead the team in goals and points, and tied for the lead in assists, en route to finishing third in Calder voting. Fellow rookies Christian Dvorak and Christian Fischer totaled 15 goals each, plus 17 from Brendan Perlini. Max Domi and Anthony Duclair were both traded away within the last year, as Richard Panik and Alex Galchenyuk entered. Galchenyuk will be a much better second line center than Domi would have been. Grabner is a speedy third liner that can easily score 20 goals. 2015 third overall pick Dylan Strome could actually have a full season in the NHL. Nick Merkley and Lawson Crouse are also fighting for spots.

Forward lines:

Clayton Keller – Derek Stepan – Richard Panik
Brendan Perlini – Alex Galchenyuk – Christian Fischer
Michael Grabner – Christian Dvorak – Nick Cousins
Lawson Crouse – Dylan Strome – Vinnie Hinostroza
Other: Brad Richardson, Nick Merkley, Mario Kempe.
Injured: Marian Hossa, Dave Bolland.

Defense: After signing a new mega deal with the team, Oliver Ekman-Larsson will likely be named captain. He scored 42 points in 2017-18, but that was a down year for him. This is a defenseman who scored 44 goals in his age 23 and 24 seasons. He\’s a top 10 defender in the league. Alex Goligoski, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Jason Demers are veteran presences all playing top 4 roles. Injuries limited Jakob Chychrun to just 50 games as a 19 year old, but he will come back strong. The sixth defenseman, Kevin Connauton sneakily scored 11 goals.

Defensive pairings:

Oliver Ekman Larsson – Jason Demers
Alex Goligoski – Niklas Hjalmarsson
Jakob Chychrun – Kevin Connauton
Other: Jordan Oesterle.

Goalies: Antti Raanta had a very good 2017-18, with a .930 SV% and 2.24 GAA. He will once again start most games for AZ. Darcy Keumper comes back to back up Raanta.

Goalie alignment:

Antti Raanta
Darcy Keumper
Other: Adin Hill

Predictions:

Top five scorers:

Clayton Keller
Alex Galchenyuk
Derek Stepan
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Richard Panik

Playoffs: No
Division spot: 7th

                 The Anaheim Ducks have made the playoffs in six straight seasons, winning the Pacific division five of those times, and have made the Western Conference finals twice in the last four seasons, despite not making a Stanley Cup final appearance since winning it all in 2007. With their forward core aging, a young defense and goalie will have to lead them to the playoffs. Before we look at the team, let\’s see some fast facts for the Anaheim Ducks.

Head Coach: Randy Carlyle
General Manager: Bob Murray
Arena: Honda Center
AHL Affiliate: San Diego Gulls
2017-18 record: 44-25-13 (101 points)
2017-18 division placement: second
Division: Pacific
2017-18 goals leader: Rickard Rakell (34)
2017-18 assists leader: Ryan Getzlaf (50)
2017-18 points leader: Rickard Rakell (69)
2017-18 points leader (defenseman): Josh Manson (37)
Captain: Ryan Getzlaf
Assistant Captains: Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler
2018 first round selection: Isac Lundestrom

Offseason additions: Luke Schenn, Andrej Sustr, Brian Gibbons, Anton Rodin, Carter Rowney, Jared Coreau, Chase De Leo.
Offseason subtractions: Francois Beauchemin, Antoine Vermette, Kevin Bieksa, Derek Grant, J.T. Brown, Jason Chimera, Chris Kelly and Jared Boll.

Forwards: Now 33, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry need someone to pass the torch to. That would be Rickard Rakell, who was the first person to lead to team in points not named Getzlaf since 2011-12, when 41 year old Teemu Selanne scored 66 points. Rookies Troy Terry, Sam Steel and Max Jones will probably see extended playing time this year. Ondrej Kase enjoyed a nice breakout season, scoring 20 goals, but will stay on the third line. Steel and Terry will fight for a 4th line spot alongside Brian Gibbons, a 30 year old who joins the team after scoring 26 points in 59 games in New Jersey. A suspension caused Andrew Cogliano to miss the first two games of his 11 year career, but he will look to score 20 goals for just a second time in his career.

Forward lines:

Rickard Rakell – Ryan Getzlaf – Corey Perry
Nick Ritchie – Ryan Kesler – Jakob Silfverberg
Andrew Cogliano – Adam Henrique – Ondrej Kase
Brian Gibbons – Sam Steel – Troy Terry
Other: Carter Rowney, Anton Rodin, Joseph Blandisi.
Injured: Patrick Eaves.

Defense: Josh Manson\’s 37 points led all d-man, but I think Cam Fowler is capable of reaching 40 in 2018-19. Hampus Lindholm and Brandon Montour are also top-4 locks. At 22, Marcus Pettersson will get a starting shot. Either Luke Schenn or Andrej Sustr will get the sixth spot Watch out for 21 year old Jacob Larsson as well.

Defensive pairs:

Cam Fowler – Josh Manson
Hampus Lindholm – Brandon Montour
Marcus Pettersson – Luke Schenn
Other: Jacob Larsson, Andrej Sustr, Korbinian Holzer.

Goalies: Only 25, John Gibson had a great 2017-18. He\’ll look to be a top 10 starter this year. Ryan Miller was an NHL backup for the first time, and will be one again. Jared Coreau is the third goalie.

Goalie alignment:

John Gibson
Ryan Miller
Other: Jared Coreau.

Predictions:

Top five scorers:
Rickard Rakell
Adam Henrique
Ryan Getzlaf
Corey Perry
Ondrej Kase

Playoffs: yes
Division spot: 2nd
I think they will only reach the 2nd round in 2018-19.

            Vegas Golden Knights D Nate Schmidt has been suspended 20 games for violating the terms of of the NHL/NHLPA Performance Enhancing Substances Program. Both the Golden Knights and Schmidt released statements denying it.

             In his statement, Schmidt said that he was \”Extremely disappointed\” by the news, and \”Utterly Shocked\”. He also said that \”The amount of substance found in my system was 7 billionths of a milligram, the equivalent of a grain of salt in an Olympic swimming pool.

             Schmidt, 27, scored five goals and 31 assists for 36 points in 76 games for the Golden Knights in 2017-18. In his NHL career for the Golden Knights and Washington Capitals, Schmidt has scored 13 goals and 66 assists for 79 points in 276 games.

            The New York Yankees have acquired SS Adeiny Hechavarria and cash considerations from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations.

            For the Yankees, Hechavarria is just fielding depth for late innings. He is one of the best defensive infielders in the league, and is one of those \”defensive replacement\” guys.

            Hechavarria, 29, has a .254 batting average, four homers and 29 RBIs in 284 Plate Appearances for the Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays this year. In his MLB career for the Pirates, Rays, Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays, Hechavarria has a .255 batting average, 26 homers and 236 RBIs in 2967 Plate Appearances.

           For the Pirates, Hechavarria is pretty much useless to them. They get some money for him, and a spot for prospect Kevin Newman to play. That\’s about it.